link to Talbot Project home page link to De Montfort University home page link to Glasgow University home page
Project Director: Professor Larry J Schaaf
 

Back to the letter search >

Result number 26 of 51:   < Back     Back to results list   Next >  

Document number: 6302
Date: 11 Feb 1850
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: MALONE Thomas Augustine
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA50-11
Last updated: 3rd September 2010

122 Regent St <1>
Feby 11/50

To H F Talbot Esqr

Sir

The slab I sent you was glazed I therefore assumed that it was not porous. A perfect glaze is non-absorbent.

I would ask you to break one of the slabs you can then prepare the transverse section that presents itself I find a thin vitreous coating at the sides. The centre is more absorbent than the part immediately under the vitreous part of the section.

It follows that slabs over-burned must have their surfaces removed so as to reach the centre where if the heat has not been too great a proper surface may be obtained In some experiments made with Cocker I first noticed that the centre of a mass of porcelain may be opaque & porous while the part near the surface ( of shown by a section) is translucent & impervious to moisture. –

This is fortunate because it may sometimes happen that the fire has been badly managed. Too much heat produced. The surface vitrified even when glaze has not been used.

In this case a little more grinding will bring us to the surface we require. –

I am trying to remove the glaze from Davenports<2> slabs by chemical agency I think grinding fills up the pores and will take some time to brush out.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant
T A Malone


Notes:

1. 122 Regent Street, London: base of Nicolaas Hennemans’ Talbotype or Sun Picture Rooms, later the firm of Henneman & Malone, photographers to the Queen.

2. Established in 1793 by John Davenport (1765-1848), at Longport, Burslem, Stafforshire.

Result number 26 of 51:   < Back     Back to results list   Next >